In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt "Frank said:
I am using Windows XP Home. When booting, I press F8 to enter safe
mode. The display on my LCD screen then starts to quiver and blink.
Through the quivering and blinking, I can see a black screen with some
options to select. This, too, is quivering and blinking. One of the
options is to enter safe mode. I select that option, using the up
arrow key, and press enter. Then, my screen goes completely blank. I
have no video issues with any of my applications when I start Win xp
normally, nor do I have any problem entering the setup program to
change CMOS settings.
What should I do to troubleshoot this? I want to have safe mode as an
option in case something goes wrong.
Um ... Just having been through this myself with a new LCD monitor I got
for Christmas, wanting to run "Safe Mode" for backup of some files (so
they wouldn't be in use by the system, and thus locked-out), and looking
at replies to your post and others, I got this:
While running Windows XP normally:
Start -> Run -> msconfig
Select the BOOT.INI tab.
Select "/BASEVIDEO"
You can also select "/SAFEBOOT" and pick the "Safe Mode" you want to
boot up under. (These are the same options you get if hitting "F8"
while booting. Unlike the "F8" option when you boot up, this allows
selecting *both* VGA mode *and* "Safe Mode" at the same time. However,
I don't recommend using the "/SAFEBOOT" option from msconfig, because
that sets "Safe Mode" as the mode you will *always* boot up under,
unless you change it back ... again, with msconfig. You have more
options by just setting "/BASEVIDEO", and using "F8" regularly to boot
up in "Safe Mode". BOTH will work.
*OR*, as a different option, you can set "/SAFEBOOT", leave "/BASEVIDEO"
alone, and select "VGA Mode" from the bootup "F8" menu. Either of the
three methods work; as Safe-Mode and VGA-Mode logically OR when set
either by msconfig or by the "F8" bootup process.
Note: The last line in the BOOT.INI file in msconfig shows the additions
made to the line under [operating systems]; though you may have to tab
over to the right of the display in the program to see them. These
change *could* be made manually to the BOOT.INI file with an editor ...
but with difficulty, since it's a hidden/system/read-only file. This
way makes it almost foolproof ... almost.
*IF* (like me) you have your screen set to high-resolution mode, AND
have also expanded your icons in size to make them (and the text) easier
to see, then when you boot up choose "Administrator" rather than your
own normal boot. *Hopefully* you haven't changed that to large-icons
and fonts also!!! If you have, you'll find it almost impossible to get
back to normal; as the large icons make the "Start" menu too big for you
to get to "run" and run "msconfig" again! Oops!
Well ... OK ... It's not quite as bad as that:
Simply hit CTL-ALT-DEL (the three-finger-salute) and bring up Windows
Task Manager. Select "New Task..." and you can then enter "msconfig" to
put things back ... or change them, or whatever.
Note: This *also* works if you have gotten int CLI
(Command-Line-Interpreter) modem have what looks like a DOS prompt, and
can't figure out how to run a command or even exit properly without
hitting reset.
AFAICT, the problem with LCD panels is that Windows XP *assumes* that
any modern monitor can run at 85hz refresh-rate; while almost all LCD
panels just won't ... They don't *need* the high refresh-rate to produce
a stable and non-flickering screen. Even displaying TV, 60hz is all
they need; because that's the broadcast standard (30hz actually; but
interlaced at 60hz). So the makers of LCD panels don't see the need for
higher refresh-rate support. Gaaah!
You can see what "ASS-U-ME" does; especially when both the OS and the
monitor makers make opposing assumptions. ;-{
I'm posting this, so that other people who buy LCD monitors might find
the information needed to get into "Safe Mode" easier than I did.
Sorry that it's about 6 months late for you. ;-{
It's about three months late for me.
